Jayasuriya cameo fine with tourists

Sanath Jayasuriya "is a brilliant guy so we’re happy to have him in the side because he gives us a lot of confidence", said Thilana Kandamby

Sanath Jayasuriya’s presence for Sri Lanka one last time is welcome, according to the man who is set to captain him on his farewell appearance.

Jayasuriya, who turns 42 on Thursday, will play in his 445th one-day international tomorrow before retiring to concentrate on life as a member of Sri Lanka’s parliament.

Prior to Saturday’s Twenty20 international, the opening batsman had not played for his country for over a year, but his comeback will not be long.

Having been recalled for the one-day leg of this tour, he decided only to make himself available for the one-off T20 and tomorrow’s first NatWest Series one-day international at the Kia Oval.

If that is not ideal for the tourists, Thilana Kandamby – who is set to lead the side tomorrow in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan – preferred to see the positives of having Jayasuriya available.

“Sanath is a brilliant guy so we’re happy to have him in the side because he gives us a lot of confidence because we know he can bat that well and he’s a very important guy,” said Kandamby, who stood in for Dilshan on Saturday.